The Science Behind Slime

Slime is what we call a non-Newtonian fluid, which means that it acts as both a liquid and a solid.

School glue is made of polyvinyl alcohol, which contains long strings of molecules. In their normal state, the molecules within polyvinyl alcohol act as long, slippery strings that slide past one another.

When you add Borax – which contains the chemical compound, borate – to water, it creates borate ions. These ions act as links that connect the long strings of polymers together.

In turn, the continual interaction between borate ions and polyvinyl alcohol creates that weird, slimy effect that has captured the fascination of kids and adults alike.

We hope you enjoy our slime tutorial!
As always, #StayLit and feel free to share your slime creations with the BioPop team on social media.